Page 91 of Into The Light

His grin grew and he nodded. “No judgements here.”

“Good. Then I will need two shots of Jägermeister.”

I saw the surprise on his face before it grew into an appreciate nod. “Coming right up.”

“Jägermeister?” I asked her. “What is that?”

“It’s the absolute best medicine for sore bodies and injuries. After a few shots of Jäger, you won’t feel a thing.”

Jonas returned with the dark bottle sporting a deer with an impressive rack. He placed the little clear glasses in front of us and poured out the dark liquid.

“We’ll need two rum runners to chase this down,” Emilia said. “It’s his first Jäger,” she added in a whisper.

Jonas shot a grimace at me. “Good luck.” He laughed and walked away with the bottle.

“Well, are you ready?” Mirth danced behind her eyes when she grabbed the glass and raised it toward me.

“You’re making me nervous,” I said as I picked up my own. “And why is he looking at me like that?” Jonas eyed me with anticipation while he mixed our rum runners.

“Just drink it all at once.”

I started to sniff it, but she stopped me with a stare.

“No sniffing! Just slam it!”

“What have I gotten myself into?” I laughed.

“To us.” She clinked her glass to mine and a little of the brown liquid sloshed over the side.

“To us.”

Holding her eyes, I tossed the Jäger down my throat. My face puckered and contorted while I spit and sputtered my response. I could hear Jonas laughing from across the empty bar, and Emilia soon joined him.

“Why would you do that to me?” I continued spatting, trying to get the last of the foul-tasting alcohol off my tongue.

“Chasers! Here drink this!” Jonas appeared in front of me, sliding the rum runner into my hands. I tossed it down my throat hoping to remove the bitter taste from the shot. The fruity liquid dulled the taste and by the time the ice cubes clinked that the cup was empty, it had finally diminished.

Emilia bit her lip, her face pulled tight in anticipation. “Are you recovered?”

I set the glass down and gestured for Jonas to grab me another. “Barely,” I answered, wiping the remnants of my drink off my lips. “Emilia. That. Was. Horrible.”

A laugh shook her shoulders, and she reached out and touched my hand. “It’s a rite of passage. Everyone has to do a Jäger at least once in their life and make that face. But don’t worry, they get better. It’s an acquired taste.”

“Again?” My eyes popped with the thought of tasting that horrifying liquid again. “No way. One is enough for me.”

“One and done? No way. Mark would never. Jonas? Two more?” she called.

“Coming right up!” he answered back.

She waggled her eyebrows. “Trust me. You’re gonna be begging for more of them after a few more.”

“You’re killing me.” I laughed, shaking my head. “It’s a good thing I love you and I’m powerless to deny you.”

Powerless. The memory of being powerless flashed through my mind and I felt that drop in my stomach again. I tried quickly to focus my hearing, but still nothing.

“I love you, too.” She snapped my attention back.

When Jonas arrived with the shot, I already felt a little warm buzzing flowing through my body from the first one. It wasn’t unpleasant, and it softened my anxiety over my current situation. Perhaps Emilia was right... getting hammered was just what I needed tonight.